Bucket List:Whale Shark Adventure

Location: Isla Mujeres, Cancun Mexico

Queer Rating: Friendly

Beach: Snorkel a small reef on Playa Norte Isla Mujeres and eat ceviche after

As a profound ocean enthusiast it has long been a dream of mine to swim with a shark in their natural habitat. Of course the whale shark is the most docile of all shark species, it is none the less exhilarating. Imagine you are in the water, mere feet from a fish that is at least the size of a school bus swimming along collecting the most microscopic of plankton and krill. Just WOW!

Sam on the Aron

The day started out with the captain picking us up at the house on Isla Mujeres. We were heading to get on board the Aron to meet up with some other folks also joining us. Then it was 20km out into open ocean where the whale sharks were feeding on an abundance of plankton. This feeding happens yearly between May and September.

Please note:While this is a tourist activity much like heading to Akumal, there are plenty of rules and regulations to foll

Whale Shark Cruising

ow and only a certain number of boats are licensed to operate tours during this period.

In the Water with a Whale Shark

Once you get out to the location of the whale sharks the captain and guide tell you to get ready. This means getting on your snorkel and fins ready to jump in the water. No time for fear or hesitation. If you are not ready forget about it, you missed that round. You literally jump in the water close to a whale shark. The guide takes you towards the big fish while the boat circles around to pick you up. In the boat the other tourists are rea

Sam Snorkels

dying to jump in immediately after you are onboard.

It sounds hectic because it is. In the water this day were about 25 fish. Sometimes there are 50+ and others still there are also the big manta rays. These beautiful creatures also feed on the plankton and krill in abundance here during this time. There are also 20-40 tour boats all positioning to get their tourists into the water to experience this once in a lifetime adventure.

Bye Bye Whale Shark

The captain and the guide will let you get in the water 3-5 times depending on the crowds before heading back. In case you are wondering there are rules. Rules you must follow.

When you have completed swimming with these gentle giants you will boat back to Playa Norte for some ceviche and a swim in a small reef there. Playa Norte is rated one of the top 10 beaches in the world. The reef boasts a few fish and is always packed with tourists feeding the fish. However, you have a boat, swim in the white sand bottomed water, drink cervesa and eat your ceviche before returning to dock.

At the end of the day I was completely exhausted and overwhelmed with how (expletive) cool the experience was. As the days after unwound I realized I was so effected by the

Whale Shark Tattoo

experience that I got myself a tattoo to commemorate it.

If you want a once in a life time experience that pits you in the open ocean with giant sharks then you need to be in Mexico in the summer of 2018.

What’s better than soaking up the sun? Doing it with “family!” These 5 sun soaked hot spots are all the buzz this summer whether you’re looking for adventure, a quiet place with that special someone, or the ultimate party.

Here are the Top 5 LGBT Sun Soaked Destinations for 2015 …

Fire Island, NY

It’s a well-known fact to the locals that Fire Island is the go to gay and lesbian wedding destination. It may be less well known that it’s also the go to hot spot for queer partying in the sun and surf. With its quaint boardwalk and adorable rental homes, Fire Island feels secluded without actually being so. A quick trip on the fairy, (I’m talking about a boat!) and you’re dropped off in a veritable gay and lesbian wonderland. And between you and me, they trying to crack down on it, but clothing is still very much optional.

It may be hard to imagine but Key West, Florida is an emerging queer destination. If you’re looking for gay friendly destination that offers more than just clubbing and cruising the beach, Kay West may be for you. With its laid back, southern vibe, Key West offers great resorts and is a budding culinary stop for any foodie. The best part is their PRIDE festival is held in June. Go early to wind down, stay to turn up!

Miami Beach, FL

Unfortunately, PRIDE 2015 has already taken place in Miami. What better place to kick it off? Fortunately, the fun doesn’t stop there. Miami has a long-standing tradition of being a popular queer party town and nothing has changed. Miami lands itself at number three because it is the perfect mix of high-octane club life, sophisticated luxury, and colorful history. Miami’s cultural diversity will trulyinspire, while its celebrity studded parties will rock you all night long.

You’ll be hard pressed to find more gay friendly hotels, resorts, and amenities than Cancun. There certainly is no shortage of eye candy either. The best part is traveling to Mexico is cheaper than other tropical destinations. You’ll have plenty of money left over to enjoy the water sports, tequila, and hard bodies on the beach. Hop in a cab and head downtown for some fine dinning and an endless choice of party destinations. The people are friendly and they are mindful to cater to English speaking tourists, so you’ll feel right at home. Prefer a side of adventure with your vacay? Cancun’s rich history with it’s hidden caves and nearby historical landmarks will both inspire and entertain!

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Put all your preconceived notions about Brazil aside, because there is absolutely no better place to soak up the sun and be out and proud than Rio de Janeiro. This party city is famous for its open mindedness, outrageous festivals and scantily clad revelers. You won’t be limited to lazing on the beach or all night party sessions either. Rio is famous for its food, shopping and tourism. Stay at a luxury boutique hotel or rough it at one of their many hostels. Whatever you have to do, just get to Rio!

You Wanna Soak Up The Sun…? QueerCompass will poist more LGBT Sun Destinations throughout the year!

Is there such a thing as a Lesbian Adventure Travel community out there? Are there like minded queers who meet up in far off locales to snorkel, dive, kayak and more? Is it global, comprised of weekend warriores and lifestyle travelers? How big is this community?

I started my research by searching for the phrase “Lesbian Adventure Travel” I know right, how obvious was that? See the Results! Google is the only search engine, that is my review for search right there!.

Search Lesbian Adventure Travel

Below are the top 3 results found from the search. Some of the links were out dated. Ooops Google?

Meet up groups are a great way to form community. Yay! There are a number of Meetups groupsavailable to join. Fine tune your search and stumble upon groups in localized regions, global groups and more.

http://www.olivia.com/
We all know Olivia right? They specialize in “Adventure Travel” with Lesbian Cruises and vacations globally. The vacation destinations are all posted on the Olivia website, and also offer great payment plans. Get on Board!